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How have human activities influenced savanna vegetation over thousands of years?

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Flat savanna plain with scattered acacia trees under a partly cloudy sky in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. — Savanna A savanna marked with acacia trees in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Africa's Serengeti Plain is commonly used as an example of the savanna biome—a hot, seasonally dry ecological region characterized by an open tree canopy (i.e., scattered trees) above an understory of continuous grasses.

Human activities have significantly shaped savanna vegetation over thousands of years, primarily through the use of fire, land management, and livestock grazing.123

The Role of Fire

For millennia, humans have used fire as a primary tool to modify the landscape. Indigenous peoples, such as those in Australia, have utilized fire for at least 50,000 years to keep the land open, encourage the growth of edible plants, and facilitate hunting. By frequently burning the land, humans have favored fire-resistant species—such as eucalyptus—while suppressing fire-sensitive vegetation that might otherwise transition into forest or deciduous forest.32

Land Use and Grazing

Human expansion and the introduction of livestock have further altered savanna structures. Overgrazing can deplete grassy components, while the removal of woody plants for fuel can lead to soil erosion and desertification. Conversely, in some regions, the reduction of fire or changes in herbivore populations can lead to "bush encroachment," where woody plants become overly dense and transform the savanna into forest.1345

Ultimately, human impact is superimposed on natural climatic patterns, creating a complex, ongoing evolution of savanna ecosystems worldwide.1